Liverpool’s 30-year wait nearly over
Mohamed Salah ripped off his Liverpool jersey at a freezing Anfield after completing a 2-0 victory over Manchester United in stoppage time and rousing fans on the Kop to sing: ‘‘We’re gonna win the league.’’
It’s been a 30-year wait but there is no longer any trepidation from the Liverpool supporters as their team has moved 16 points in front at the Premier League summit.
‘‘Now you’re gonna believe us,’’ they chanted.
It took Salah getting on the end of goalkeeper Alisson’s inspired long ball with the final whistle about to blow for the Liverpool title party to begin with four months of the season remaining.
Although Liverpool only held a slender lead heading into stoppage time – after Virgil van Dijk’s 14th minute header from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner – the ineffective United attack meant this victory never appeared in doubt.
Even with Liverpool unbeaten through 22 games and with a game in hand, the players aren’t as bullish as their fans in declaring the title a done deal.
‘‘I think everyone wants us to say something about it but we won’t,’’ van Dijk said. ‘‘In the squad we cannot, and we won’t. It is one game at a time.’’
Liverpool could even afford to have two goals ruled out.
Liverpool are closing in on a 19th English title, one behind the record haul United built with 13 Premier League successes under Alex Ferguson.
But it is United’s neighbours Manchester City who are the nearest but still distant challenger to Liverpool, 16 points behind in second place in their ailing title defence.
United are 30 points behind Liverpool in fifth place.
Meanwhile, All Whites star Chris Wood scored in Burnley’s win over his former club Leicester City and upstaged former England striker Jamie Vardy.
Wood netted his ninth league goal of the season to equalise for Burnley before Vardy – a former team-mate of the Kiwi forward – missed a penalty for third-placed Leicester yesterday at Burnley’s Turf Moor ground.
An Ashley Westwood goal earned Burnley a 2-1 home win to snap a run of five English Premier League defeats.
Wood, who scored 12 goals in 52 games for Leicester from 2013 to 2015, often playing alongside Vardy.
He scored his first premier league goal for Leicester in the 2014-15 season, but soon after left for Leeds United before joining Burnley in 2017 in a $26 million transfer.